Electrode holder



Feb. 18, 1941. J. cHURcHwARD ELECTRODE HOLDER Filed Nov. 17, 1958 BY 2 mj ArroRNEY m w. w.

Jack Churchwani.

Patented Feb. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,232,213 ELEo'rnoDE 'nomma necticut Application November 17, 1938, Serial No. 240,934

8 Claims. (Ci. 21S- 8) This invention relates to electrode holders for use with electric arc welding, or like, machines and more particularly to` new and improved means for insulating the metallic parts of electrode holders of this type.

The featuresand principles of this invention are particularly applicable to the type and form of electrode holders shown in my prior Patents Numbers 1,973,701, and Re. 20,808, wherein the holder includes' at opposing metallic jaws and a handle, the jaws being adapted to be separated by a manually actuated trigger and the jaws being screw-threaded into a cable receiving lug or socket member:

One object of this invention is to provide an improved form of insulated electrode holder for usev in arc, or like, welding.

Another object is to provide in an electrode holder of the above nature, improved means to insulate the metallic parts of the same to insure that the operators hand will not come into contact therewith nor that the holder will inadvertently be grounded, contact the work, orother electrically energized part, to cause a short circuit and possible damage or injury by arc burning.

A further object is to provide in an electrode holder of the above nature a fully insulated electrode holding jaw separating trigger and which includes a handle extension of insulating material.

A still further object is to providel an insulated electrode holder of the above nature which will be relatively simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, readily manipulated, compact, ornamental in appearance, vand. very efilcient and durable in use. With these and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, there has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing a form in which the features and principles of this invention may be conveniently embodied in practice.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side View of an electrode holder embodying the novel features and principles of this invention;

Figure 2 is a broken enlarged vertical longitudinal section of the holder shownin Figure 1;

Figure 3 is -an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a broken sectional view taken on line 6--5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a somewhat modified form of insulating part.

Referring now to my previous patents, above threaded portion I3 formed on one end, whichA portions, when in abutment, are adapted to be screw threaded into a cable lug or socket member Il to which a cable I5, leading to a source of electrical energy, is connected. The jaws II and I2 are oppositely bowed, as at I6 and Il, in ac-v.

cordance with the features and principles of my Patent Number Re. 20,808, and are provided with electrode receiving slots I8 in their forward portions.

Intermediate the ends of each of the blades II and I2 transversely extending and opposing recesses I9 and 20 respectively are formed, in and between which recesses a portion 2l of a trigger member is disposed. The trigger portion 2| is substantially flat whereby, when it is rocked, the blades or jaws II and I2 will be separated to permit the insertion of an electrode 22 therebetween disposed in the slots I8. The trigger may be made by casting it in the'form shown, or it may be formed by bending a straight bar of material into an open body portion 23 substantially rectangular in shape with the end portions 24 and 25 brought together and extended from the b'ody 23, and then welded to form a relatively short solid shank 26. The shank 26, so formed, is inclined upwardly from the center of an upper flat trigger portion 2l, spaced from and above the portion 2|, and joined to it by side members 28 and 28, which straddle the upper jaw II.

In order to prevent the metallic jaws II and I2 from inadvertently contacting other metallic parts, or the work, they are covered upon their outer surfaces with a strip, or strips oi' compressed insulating material, preferably of fireproof nature such as an asbestos composition,l

which extends outwardly about and beyond the 'side and end edges of the jaws II and I2. These insulating strips include one, 3| secured to the jaw II by screws 32 and extends from beyond the end of the jaw II to closely adjacent one side of the trigger portion 2l and one, 33, secured to the jaw II by a screw u and extends from closely adjacent the screw-threaded portion 2l, the amount of spacing being sufiicient to permit rocking oi' the trigger without interference by this strip 3|. A strip 35, covering the jaw i2 is secured thereto by screws 3| and extends from beyond the end of the jaw i2 to closely adjacent the screw-threaded portion I3 thereof. If desired the insulating strips 3|, 3l, and 3l may be of the form shown in Figure 6 wherein the insulating material 60 is shown as having a plurality of metallic wires 6| embedded therein to reinforce the same.

The lug, or socket member, I4 is herein shown provided with a hexagonal head, or end portion, 31 to facilitate screw-threading the abutted jaw portion I3 into the threaded socket 38 thereof. The lug I4 is enclosed by an elongated tube 39 of insulating material, preferably of fibre, which forms a handle for the holder. The tube 39 is secured to the jaws Il and I2 by being connected to the head or end portion I1 of the lug I4 by a screw 4|, the head 42 of which is exposed at the surface of the tube 39. Aring 43 of insulating material, preferably rubber, ls forced or stretched over the tube 39 into a position to cover the exposed head 42 of the screw 4| to prevent possible contact of the operators hand therewith. A guard plate 44 of insulating material, preferably of fibre, and which may be curved inwardly over the handle tube Il, is provided to protect the hand of the operator from sparks of molten metal which ny about while welding. The guard plate 44 is provided with at least a straight bottom edge 45 whereby it, with the handle 39, or the insulating strip 35, will form an insulated supporting means for the holder. Herein the plate 44 is rectangular in shape whereby straight side edges 45 and 41 are provided which are likewise useful as holder supporting means should it be placed on its side. A groove 48 is formed in the top edge of the plate 44 to provide clearance for the short shank 26 of the trigger.

The trigger of this holder is insulated by having a short length of a tube 49 of insulating material, preferably of fibre, forced upwardly over the rectangular body portion 23 of the trigger. The tube 49 is herein shown as being elongated in cross-section and having relatively flat opposing sides 5| and 52 joined at their ends by arcuately curved portions 53 and 54. 'I'he portions 53 and 54 extend over the side members i 28 and 29 respectively of the trigger body 23 to below the trigger portion 2|, the sides 5| and I! being cut away to clear the strips I3 and 35 secured on the jaw Il, the remaining portions of the sides 5| and 52 extending upwardly over the upper trigger portion 21.

A block 55 of insulating material, preferably of fibre, having a central hole 5i therein, is forced downwardly over the trigger shank 26 and into the top of the tube 49 to seal it and center it in respect to, and to support it upon the rectangular trigger body 23. A tube 51 of insulating material, preferably of fibre, is forced downwardly upon the trigger shank 26 into clamping abutment against the top of the block 55 and the upper end of the tube 49, whereby these parts will be firmly and securely held in place. If desired the joints between theblock 55 and the tubes 49 and 51 may be sealed by a suitable insulating cement. The tube 51 is extended beyond the end of the trigger shank 25 to provide a readily engageable elongated handle for actuating the trigger to separate the jaws and I2.

In view of the above described construction an 7l electrode holder is provided in which all of the metallic parts thereof are completely and efciently insulated and an insulated support and actuating handles fox the same are provided. The provision of an electrode holder insulated as above described insures efficient and rapid welding without requiring special care in handling the holder to avoid placing it on electrical energized or grounded metallic parts, and further insures the user against possible injury from contact with the electrically energized parts of the same. The particularly novel manner of insulating the trigger, without in any way interfering with its operation, is relatively inexpensive, readily applied and eiilcient and durable in use.

While there has been disclosed in this application one form in which the invention may be embodied, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is, therefore, desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative, and not restrictive, and it will be further understood that each and every novel feature and combination present in or possessed by the device herein disclosed forms a part of the invention included in this application.

Having thus fully described the invention what is claimed as new and for which it is desired to obtain Letters Patent, is:

1. In an electrode holder having a pair of cooperating iiat elongated jaws adapted to be separated to receive an electrode therebetween, a trigger member having a first portion intermedlate the ends of said jaws and disposed and being rocknble to separate them, and side portions extending upwardly from said first portion and straddling a first one of said jaws, a first strip of insulating material secured to a second one of said jaws and extending beyond this jaw at each side and front end thereof, a second strip of insulating material secured to the first of said jaws and extending from one side of said trigger to and beyond the front end of this jaw and extending beyond the sides thereof, and a third strip of insulating material secured to the first of said jaws and extending from the other side of said trigger over this jaw and extending beyond the sides thereof.

2. In an electrode holder having a pair of c0- operating flat elongated jaws adapted to be separated to receive an electrode therebetween, a trigger member having a first portion intermediate the ends of said jaws and disposed and being rockable to separate them, and side portions extending upwardly from said first portion and straddling a first one of said jaws, a first strip of insulating material secured to a second one of said jaws and extending beyond this jaw at each side and the front end thereof, a second strip of insulating material secured to the first of said jaws and extending from one Side of said trigger to and beyond the front end of this jaw and extending beyond the side thereof, a third strip of insulating material secured to the first of said jaws and extending from the other side of said trigger over this jaw and extending beyond the sides thereof, and a guard plate clamped to the rear end of said jaws adjacent the ends of the first and third strips of insulating material on said jaws said guard plate having substantially straight top, bottom, and side edges, and

, being curved, from a point above and rearwardly of said jaws, forwardly to the rear ends thereof, and then to a point below and rearwardly of said jaws.

3., In an electrode holder having a pair of cooperating fiat elongated jaws adapted to be separated to receive an electrode therebetween, a trigger member having a first portion intermediate the ends of said jaws and disposed and being rockable to separate them, and side portions extending upwardly from said first portion and straddling a rst one of said jaws, a first strip of insulating material secured to a second one of said jaws and extending beyond this jaw at each side and the front end thereof, a second strip of insulating material secured to the first of said jaws and extending from one side of said trigger to and beyond the front end of this jaw and extending beyond the sides thereof, and a third strip of insulating material secured to the rst of said jaws and extending from the other side of said trigger over this jaw and extending beyond the sides thereof, and an arcuately curved guard plate clamped to the rear end of said jaws adjacent the ends of the rst and third strips of insulating material on said jaws, a cable receiving lug connected to the rear ends of said jaws and clamping said plate thereto, a tube of insulating material enclosing said lug and abutting said plate, means to secure said tube to said lug and having an exposed end adjacent the surface of Asaid tube, and a ring of insulating material on said tube to cover the exposed end of said securing means.

4. In an electrode holder having a pair of separable jaws to receive an electrode therebetween, a trigger for separating said jaws comprising an open rectangular member encircling one of said jaws and having depending side members and an upper member, a shank extending from said upper member, and means to insulate said trigger including a tubular member of insulating material having a portion arranged to overlie each of said depending side members and a portionencircling said upper member, a cover portion of insulating material through which said shank extends and disposed in the portion of said tubular member which encircles said upper member, and a tube of insulating material enclosing said shank and clamping said cover portion against said upper member to retain it in said tubular member. f

5. In an electrode holder having separable jaws, a trigger for separating said jaws comprising an open body portion encircling one of said jaws and a shank extending from the upper part of said body portion, means to insulate said trigger insulating material, through which said shank is passed, disposed in the upper end of said tubular member, and a tube of insulating material encircling said shank and engaging said block to hold it in place.

6. In an electrode holder having a jaw portion movable away from another jaw portion, a trigger for moving said jaw portion comprising spaced apart upper and lower parts connected by spaced apart side parts, said parts encircling said movable jaw portion, and a shank extending from said upper part, and means to insulate said trigger including a tubular member of insulating material encircling the upper trigger part and having a depending portion covering each of said trigger side parts, a member of insulating material covering the upper part, and a tube of insulating material covering said shank and holding the member covering the upper trigger part in place.

7. In an electrode holder having a jaw portion movable away from another jaw portion, a trigger for moving said jaw portion comprising spaced apart upper and lower parts connected by spaced apart side parts, said parts encircling said movable jaw portion, and a shank extending from said upper part, and means to insulate said trigger including a tubular member of insulating material encircling the' upper trigger part and having a depending portion covering each of said trigger side parts, a member of insulating material covering the upper trigger part and sealing the upper end of said tubular member, and a tube of insulating material covering said shank and extending from the member covering the upper trigger part. to beyond the outer end thereof to form a trigger operating handle.

8. In an electrode holder having a pair of cooperating flat elongated jaws adapted to be separated to receive an electrode therebetween, means to so separate said jaws including a trigger member disposed between said jaws intermediate their ends, and a part extending upwardly from a rst of said jaws, a rst stnp of insulating'material secured to a second one of said jaws and extending along the same substantially its entire length, a second strip of insulating material secured to the rst of said jaws and extending from one side of said trigger to the front end of this jaw, and a third strip of insulating material secured to the rst of said jaws and extending from the other side of said trigger over this jaw.

JACK CHURCHWARD. 

